Lighting & Lamps in the Bathroom

Direct & Indirect Light in the Bathroom

Which lamps and how many light sources you need in the bathroom depend on two key factors: the size of the room and whether or not you have a bathroom with natural daylight.

In a bathroom with a window, you need less artificial light, because during the day at least, natural daylight ensures that it is bright and that you can find your way around easily. Even so, for the early morning hours and the evening, you should still ensure sufficient general lighting as well as spot lighting in certain areas. For applying make-up, for example, an illuminated mirror or a light strip is ideal. This helps you avoid overly harsh shadows and also lets you see the details of your face more clearly.

If you have an internal bathroom, unfortunately you cannot rely on sunlight. The general lighting should therefore illuminate all areas sufficiently. Here too, you can use zone lighting around the mirror area.

Small bathrooms can manage with one or two light sources – sometimes even the general lighting alone is enough. In larger rooms, you can work with the different zones and choose one light colour for the washbasin area and another for the bath or shower area. In this way, you create the perfect balance between practicality and comfort.

Which Colour Temperature for the Bathroom?

In general, a distinction is made between three different light colours: warm white, neutral white and daylight white. The light colour is stated in kelvin on the packaging of light bulbs.

Warm white light has a slight reddish hue and creates a sense of cosiness and warmth. This corresponds to a range of around 2,700 to 3,300 kelvin. Neutral white light has a higher blue content and extends up to 5,300 kelvin. Contrasts are easier to see – so this light colour is ideal wherever you spend time and want to be active. At over 5,300 kelvin, it is referred to as daylight white light. Here, the blue content is at its highest, which also promotes concentration. The light can quickly appear cool, but it is ideal for tasks that require precision.

For the bathroom, we generally recommend neutral white light for a pleasant atmosphere. Daylight white light can appear too cool, but it reproduces colours very accurately and is ideal for seeing enough detail when styling or applying make-up. With many LEDs, it is now also possible to choose between different colour temperatures and thus adapt the light to your needs.

How Many Lumens Make Sense in the Bathroom?

The lumen rating of a lamp is the unit used for luminous flux and indicates how much light it emits. With incandescent bulbs, the wattage was enough to estimate the brightness of a light source, because energy consumption is closely linked to brightness. Nowadays, it is the lumen value that helps you understand light intensity. The same rule applies here: the higher the value, the brighter the lamp.

How many lumens you need in the bathroom depends once again on the natural light, but also on your preferences. If possible, choose dimmable lamps. This allows you to adjust the brightness according to your needs. Around 280 lumens per square metre is, however, a good figure to plan for.

Safety in Bathroom Lighting

Electricity and water are not a good combination, so the lamps used in the bathroom must be protected against water. To find out which lights are suitable for use in the bathroom, the IP protection rating will help you. The IP rating is a two-digit code in which the first digit stands for protection against solid objects and contact (for example also protection against dust) and the second for protection against liquids. The higher the number, the more suitable the lamp is for installation in the bathroom. The first digit can be a maximum of 6, and the second a maximum of 9.

If you would like to install a spotlight in the shower or bath area, you should opt for IP65 to IP67. These lamps are then dust-tight and protected against water jets from all directions or against temporary immersion. In the bathroom, you should ideally not go below IP44, because splashing water can be found almost everywhere. Only where the lamp will not come into contact with water at all might lower IP ratings be conceivable.

Atmospheric Lighting in the Bathroom

Permanently installed lamps provide brightness in the bathroom. But you should not forget the right atmosphere either. Sophisticated lighting concepts that allow you to choose between different colour schemes are still rather rare. However, you can also work with candles and fragrances to create a cosy wellness atmosphere in the bathroom: with MÖVE scented candles, you also have attractive decorative elements that, when needed, can be used as a gentle source of light.